a clear majority supports senator hagel's confirmations. so today's actions run against the majority will of the senate and against our national interest. we believe senator hagel will be confirmed but the with the time is of consequence. there are 66,000 men and women in uniform in afghanistan and we need our new secretary of defense on the job to be part of the decisions that have to be made as we bring about more to a responsible and. this week in brussels, the united states will meet with our allies to talk about the condition in afghanistan. our next secretary of defense should be there. he is not because of this political gamesmanship you have seen. we urge the senate confirm center hagel and to confirm john brennan and get them to work. the nation needs them to be at work. rex to be clear, he will not be withdrawn? rex out slipknot -- >> absolutely not. >> the secretary of defense said is sequestered cuts go into effect, we would turn into a second-rate power. does the president agree america will become a second-rate power? >> the p